Scott Paschal, a simple tennis coach as minister of the Gospel, checking in with you to share a blessed testimony from a ministry partner in Australia.

When God planted a vision of international sports ministry in my heart, I could not fathom the dream to reality phases God has brought for the International Christian Tennis Association.

Through my simply being obedient to His call for my life, God has taken a wretched sinner and used me for His glory.

Others, like Rev. Bob Kraft of tennisministry.com, have likewise been used by God to reach people through the sport of tennis.

Neither Rev. Bob Kraft or myself are perfect, in fact we are both far from it, yet we both have a vision of reaching souls.

I'd like to share with you a testimony I received from a brother in Australia. For 3 years now this man and I have been friends, sharing ups and downs together while God writes his story through our lives.

Luke and I have done a radio show now for several years. The show is broadcast to tens, if not hundreds, of millions of people throughout Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, China....

It is such a blessing for my life to be the "tennis expert" for the show, though I'm sure many could do a much better job!

Be blessed as you read and know God brings people both in and out of our lives for His reasons and His seasons...

From Australia with Love
December 2005
Luke H.

It is hard to put into words what the International Christian Tennis Association and Coach Scotty Paschal has done for me and my work.

I can not talk about how he has helped me with my forehand, backhand, or physical fitness because I do not play tennis. Don’t get me wrong, I love the game but if Scotty Paschal saw me with a racquet in hand he would be embarrassed beyond belief. I serve like Michael Chang at the French Open after being injected with a general anaesthetic.

I am however involved in Sports Ministry in the media and a few years ago I was searching for some people who might know something about different sports to spend some time on the radio chatting about those sports and I came across this International Christian Tennis Association. I emailed asking if somebody would talk about the pro-tour and I received a reply with the enthusiasm that we come to expect from Scotty.

“Hi Luke, Sure we'd be thrilled to talk pro tennis with you on your program! I'm excited at the opportunity! The Australian Open is about to kick off the new tennis season in a huge way... it's a great time to get started with a new weekly tennis broadcast.” Was the email that came on the 8th of January 2004.

A few emails later and I was starting to doubt whether I was actually onto the winner that I first thought. An email from Scotty mentioned the ‘kids running him around the court’ and I had this vision of a sixty year old man coaching six year old kids and being excited to talk pro tennis just because it was a chance someone would listen to an senile old man’s ravings.

Well, Scotty was not sixty and the kids were not six (I can’t argue against the senile though) and I truly ‘was’ on a winner. I planned to have someone talk about professional tennis; I got a friend, a mentor, and an accountability partner.

We have had responses from around the world loving the chats with Scotty about tennis and the ‘passion’ that he has and the stories that he can tell, but the biggest gift has been his friendship.

It was almost immediately that we had a bond but still nearly two years later we have never ‘physically’ met.

We have never experienced a hand shake or a hug but we have actually met. We have met in our prayers and we have met in the encouraging words that have lasted weeks afterwards. We have met in a deep spiritual way that simply can’t be explained.

Scotty loves God and everything that is of Him. He loves his players that he has a chance to guide and lead on and off the tennis court and he can love you as well if you give him half a chance.

Scotty and the ICTA are not about tennis but about God and tennis is just the added fun that they have along the way.

I love the image that I have of Scotty coaching the number one player in the world in a Grand Slam final when the cameras catch him communicating to his player during a match.

An investigation forces them to try and work out what he was saying and they discover that they can’t fine him for breaking the rules because his words were actually, “tell them about Jesus’.

Mr. Pashal,
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article from your radio broadcasting friend in Australia. It is refreshing to hear real life, uplifting stories. That was a particulaly enoyable visual by Luke H. of you some time in the future calling down to a player to "Tell them about Jesus!" It sounds like you have a great friendship, and brotherhood in Christ Jesus that is very uplifting to read about. It is good to know that there are still some Christian examples and mentors willing to get involved and help out others in need. Do you still chat with your friend Luke on his Australian radio show? Keep up the good work, and I hope God will keep blessing your Tennis Minestry so you can continue to help others.
Amy Nelson

Hey Amy, Scott Paschal here from the Christian Tennis Association... yes, I do still do my awesome, inspiring radio show! What a blessing it is to me. Luke is one great guy and we both look forward to the day we can spend some time together. Wasn't that funny how he used the visual of Mac!? Great stuff for sure. It has been so great to see the many ways God has grown and developed the International Christian Tennis Association. From the radio show to bringing me amazing staff members like Rachel Snelen and Melody Snelen who travel internationally as Christian tennis missionaries on ICTA Pro Teams to our fantastic Christian tennis mission trips to famous tennis events. God is blessing christiantennis.net! We are one of the most blessed sports ministries in the world!